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THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE OF SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY
A NON-PARTISAN, FORCE OF 5000 CONSTRUCTIVE CITIZENS
WORKING WITH YOU FOR A BETTER LOCAL GOVERNMENT
K
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Vol. LII, No. 17
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1962
25c per Copy
Page 121
Transit Commission Holds Hearing on Diesels
Plans for Use of Diesel Buses
Hearing Has Been Scheduled
On Election Day, November 6,
a skirmish took place between
what one Transit Commission
member has dubbed the "Diesel-
cans and Trollicats" before the
Seattle Transit Commission. The
ensuing give-and-take was free
from rancor.
This hearing took place in the small
Atlantic Street terminal assembly
room and was attended by about 75
persons—few of whom obviously were
habitual bus riders.
Pearson Presents Plan
Transit Commissioner Russel Pearson first presented the Transit Commission plan making points which
seemed to wither many of the later
arguments by the objectors. Here they
are:
1. Ninety new diesel buses, equal in
capacity to the trolley coaches, will be
purchased. Their motors of latest design should reduce odor to a minimum.
2. One hundred electric trolley
coaches will be retained on the hill
routes between the Canal and Spokane
Street.
3. Express service by buses on the
Rainier Avenue, West Seattle and
other routes will supplant trolley
coaches. These fast trips from the outskirts, which should cut travel time
downtown about 25 per cent, it is
hoped, will attract riders from their
Discussed; Another
for Tuesday, November 13
automobiles. Local routes also will be
operated.
Questions and Their Answers
Here is a summary of the ensuing
discussion in the form of answers by
Transit Chairman Pearson and others
to questions from the audience.
Q. Why is it necessary to get rid of
the trolley coaches?
A. We do not plan to get rid of all
trolley coaches. We will retain 100.
These cannot be used on express
routes because trolleys being attached
to wires cannot leapfrog each other as
can the diesel buses. This is necessary
when you have express and local service on the same route.
Q. Why is express service necessary?
A. The Seattle Transit System has
been steadily losing customers since
the end of World War II and is headed
into larger and larger deficits unless
riders are attracted back into the
buses. This express service is an experiment to try to lure riders from their
cars through faster service from the
outskirts.
How About North End Service?
Q. How about service to the north
end?
A. We are now studying the problem and will come up with a plan to
provide some transit service in this
area. However, we must proceed carefully to avoid incurring a huge deficit
which could pull down the whole system financially. We must receive cooperation from potential riders in that
area.
Q. Wont odors from the 90 new
diesel buses contribute to our smog
problem?
A. Fumes from diesel exhausts are
not nearly as harmful to health as
gasoline fumes. The Los Angeles
Transit System has been permitted to
purchase a fleet of 200 new diesel
buses which permission would not
have been given if they had contributed to the smog. One person in the
audience testified that he has ridden
the new buses for years and has not
noticed any objectionable fumes. Another man said "stink pots" travel in
front of his home which has forced
him and his immediate families to ride
their six automobiles. A Transit Commission member suggested that if they
all rode buses their six-car contribution to smog would be decreased.
Couldn't Name Cities
Q. What has been the experience of
other cities?
A. One man in the audience said he
understands that a number of cities in
the East have dropped electrical trolley service for diesels and then resumed it. In response to an inquiry
from a member of the Commission as
to the names of the cities the gentleman said he couldn't remember.
Q. Should City Light be reimbursed
( Continued on Page 122 )

o
mm
o
~~.i~~-~~~-~ 'L..:::yk«3,i;. f;:;-;.— ijzM^'Q"^-
2
THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE OF SEATTLE AND KING COUNTY
A NON-PARTISAN, FORCE OF 5000 CONSTRUCTIVE CITIZENS
WORKING WITH YOU FOR A BETTER LOCAL GOVERNMENT
K
o
o
o
o
Vol. LII, No. 17
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1962
25c per Copy
Page 121
Transit Commission Holds Hearing on Diesels
Plans for Use of Diesel Buses
Hearing Has Been Scheduled
On Election Day, November 6,
a skirmish took place between
what one Transit Commission
member has dubbed the "Diesel-
cans and Trollicats" before the
Seattle Transit Commission. The
ensuing give-and-take was free
from rancor.
This hearing took place in the small
Atlantic Street terminal assembly
room and was attended by about 75
persons—few of whom obviously were
habitual bus riders.
Pearson Presents Plan
Transit Commissioner Russel Pearson first presented the Transit Commission plan making points which
seemed to wither many of the later
arguments by the objectors. Here they
are:
1. Ninety new diesel buses, equal in
capacity to the trolley coaches, will be
purchased. Their motors of latest design should reduce odor to a minimum.
2. One hundred electric trolley
coaches will be retained on the hill
routes between the Canal and Spokane
Street.
3. Express service by buses on the
Rainier Avenue, West Seattle and
other routes will supplant trolley
coaches. These fast trips from the outskirts, which should cut travel time
downtown about 25 per cent, it is
hoped, will attract riders from their
Discussed; Another
for Tuesday, November 13
automobiles. Local routes also will be
operated.
Questions and Their Answers
Here is a summary of the ensuing
discussion in the form of answers by
Transit Chairman Pearson and others
to questions from the audience.
Q. Why is it necessary to get rid of
the trolley coaches?
A. We do not plan to get rid of all
trolley coaches. We will retain 100.
These cannot be used on express
routes because trolleys being attached
to wires cannot leapfrog each other as
can the diesel buses. This is necessary
when you have express and local service on the same route.
Q. Why is express service necessary?
A. The Seattle Transit System has
been steadily losing customers since
the end of World War II and is headed
into larger and larger deficits unless
riders are attracted back into the
buses. This express service is an experiment to try to lure riders from their
cars through faster service from the
outskirts.
How About North End Service?
Q. How about service to the north
end?
A. We are now studying the problem and will come up with a plan to
provide some transit service in this
area. However, we must proceed carefully to avoid incurring a huge deficit
which could pull down the whole system financially. We must receive cooperation from potential riders in that
area.
Q. Wont odors from the 90 new
diesel buses contribute to our smog
problem?
A. Fumes from diesel exhausts are
not nearly as harmful to health as
gasoline fumes. The Los Angeles
Transit System has been permitted to
purchase a fleet of 200 new diesel
buses which permission would not
have been given if they had contributed to the smog. One person in the
audience testified that he has ridden
the new buses for years and has not
noticed any objectionable fumes. Another man said "stink pots" travel in
front of his home which has forced
him and his immediate families to ride
their six automobiles. A Transit Commission member suggested that if they
all rode buses their six-car contribution to smog would be decreased.
Couldn't Name Cities
Q. What has been the experience of
other cities?
A. One man in the audience said he
understands that a number of cities in
the East have dropped electrical trolley service for diesels and then resumed it. In response to an inquiry
from a member of the Commission as
to the names of the cities the gentleman said he couldn't remember.
Q. Should City Light be reimbursed
( Continued on Page 122 )